Acting Secretary of the Navy Charles H. Allen to Henry W. Peabody & Company
Washington, June 8, 1898.
The Department does not understand that a blockade exists at any port in Philippine Islands except Manila. The impracticability of communicating with Admiral Dewey1 by telegraph and the length of time it takes to communicate with him by letter, makes it necessary for the Department to leave all matters of detail, concerning the management of affairs in the Philippine Islands entirely2 to his direction. The Department has no doubt he will take the best action practicable in all matters and cannot undertake to issue any kind of permission to any specific vessel.
Allen
Actg Secy
Source Note: TCy, DNA, RG 45, Entry 29. Addressed after place-date line: “Henry W. Peabody & Co.,/Boston, Mass.” Established in 1867 as an international trading firm, Henry W. Peabody & Co. dealt in a wide variety of commodities shipped in its own vessels.
Footnote 1: RAdm. George Dewey, Commander, Asiatic Squadron.
Footnote 2: The “ly” was added in pencil.
